170 THE LITTLE SOLDIER

£ How much are they ? ' said the Princess*
' Fifty crowns each.'

* Fifty crowns I But what is there so very precious about
them ? Bo they givo one wit, or will they increase one's beauty ? '

* They could not increase what is perfect already, fair Princess,
but still they might add something.7

Boiling stones gather no moss, but they sometimes gain polish;
and the months which John had spent in roaming about the world
had not boon wawtod, Such a neatly turned compliment flattered
Ludovine.

* What will they add ? ' she smilingly asked.

* You will see, fair Princess, when you taste thorn. It will be a
surprise for you*'

Ludovinc's curiofuty was roused, Bho drew out the purse and
shook out an many little heaps of fifty crowns as there were plums
in tlio basket. The littles soldier wan Hoisted with a wild desire to
snatch the purso from her and proclaim her a thief, but he managed
to control himself.

His plums all sold, he shut up shop, tools off his disguise,
changed his inn, and kopt quiot, waiting to HOC what would
happen,

No sooner had sho reached hot room than the Princess exclaimed,
* Now lot us soo what thoso fine plnmw can add to my beauty/ and
throwing off her hood, aim picked up a couple and ate thorn.

Imagine with what surpriwo and horror nho ftslt all of. a sudden
that something was growing out of her forohoad, Bho flow to her
mirror and uttorod a pioremg cry,

* Horns I BO that waH what ho promised mo t Lot nowoone find
tho plum-Boiler at once and bring lum to mo 1 Lot \m HOBO and
ears bo cut off 1 Lot him bo flayed alivo, or burnt at a Blow fire and
his ashes scattered to the winds I Oh, I shall die of shame and
despair I *

Her woman ran at the spmd of lior screamy and tnod to wronch
off the horns, but it was of no HBO, and they only gavo hot a. violent
headache.

The Xing then sent round a herald to proclaim that he would
give the hand of the Princess to anyone who would rid hor of her
strange ornaments. So all the doctors and Horoarors and Hitrgoons
in the Low Countries and the neighbouring kingdoms thronged to
the palace, each with n remedy of Im own. But it wiw* all no good,
and the Mnceas suffered so much from their remo&Uia that the